Color display and dispensing device



June 30, 1970 J, J. WALLACE 3,517,448

COLOR DISPLAY AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 22, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l6 I8 26 o 48 22 CD 4 CD 3 O o 40. C o 60 c: c IO Q Q Q (D 40 Q s Q 46 60 as 'I 58 ii f; 60

I; 36 INVENTOR 58 JOHN J. WALLACE BY v M/law: firm/M m R new/6mm ATTOR NE YJ June 30, 1970 r J, J. WALLACE 3,517,448

COLOR DISPLAY AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 22, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet z I82 I84 110 I68 |i""" W .nmumllllllllllllllllllm ||||u|||||mm|1.'. L 124 I LII/96- IHII' lllImmllllllllllllllm- 2. nulllllnunmmmH||||||H||I|mn E m 86w) Hq- I 7 INVENTOR JOHN J. WALLACE v United States Patent 3,517,448 COLOR DISPLAY AND DISPENSING DEVICE John J. Wallace, Highland Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Sherwin-Williams Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio lFilcd May 22, 1968, Ser. No. 731,226 Int. Cl. 1365b 19/04 US. Cl. 35--28.3 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is provided a display and color sample dispensing rack including in combination a plurality of individual receptacles, a plurality of color sample displaying and dispensing devices in said rack, each device comprising a roll of colored paper and a box dimensioned to contain such roll and to fit into a box-receiving receptacle in said rack.

This invention relates as indicated to a rack for supporting and displaying a plurality of color sample displaying and dispensing devices. The device includes a box adapted to contain a coating of a predetermined color, tint, shade, or hue which can be duplicated in accordance with a predetermined formula. The box is so adapted and constructed as to provide for a convenient means for dispensing portions of the roll so that a sample of the color may be removed from the display for comparison or visualization purposes. For display of a palette of colors there is provided a rack in which a number of the boxes containing rolls of paper of different colors, tints, shades, or hues may be disposed, each of which colors is available pursuant to a predetermined formula as may be selected.

In the merchandising of coating compositions, particularly to the ultimate consumer, such as the homeowner who wishes to do his own painting, it is necessary to display a great many colors, tints, shades, or hues from which selection may be made by the ultimate consumer. In the past, these displays have consisted of color cards containing small color chips, the great majority of which had a total surface area of less than 2 square inches. Recognizing the inadequacy of such small chips to really convey an idea of how a particular color would appear, the trade then went to somewhat larger chips having a total area of 4 to 6 square inches. While these were much more satisfactory to convey an impression of what a wall surface covered with a given color would appear to be, it was still not entirely satisfactory.

In alleviation of this problem, there has now been provided an improved apparatus for and mode of displaying colors, tints, shades, or hues as coatings on a roll paper contained in a box of special construction and having in combination means for display and dispensing from the roll a sample of almost any selected size.

The invention may be better understood by having reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a display rack including a plurality of individual display boxes from which sample color sheets are dispensed.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View on an enlarged scale of a segment of one of the files in FIG. 1 as it appears in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the disposition of the individual color sample dispensing boxes within the rack.

FIG. 3 shows a blank from which color sample display and dispensing boxes useful with the present invention may be fabricated.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a box folded from a blank such as as shown in FIG. 3 and showing one 1' ice over-folded relationship of various end-forming members at each end of the box.

Briefly stated, this invention is in the provision of a color display and dispensing rack comprising a plurality of individual receptacles, a plurality of color sample displaying and dispensing devices in said rack for displaying a palette of colors and dispensing samples of different color, tint, shade, or hue, each device comprising a roll of colored paper and a box dimensioned to contain such roll and to fit into a receptacle, said box including a window or cut-out portion for exposing the color of said colored paper.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown in FIG. 1 an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention in the form of a color display rack such as might be used in a retail paint sales center. Display rack 10 is composed of a plurality of pairs of files 12 and 14, 16 and 18, 20 and 22, vertically disposed, and separated by plain panels which may include, if desired, a decorator photograph or reproduction illustrating color combinations as used in a living room or bedroom, for example. Rack 10 is conveniently supported on legs 28, 30, 32, and 34 at a height which is convenient for examing the colors within the rack 10, and also for withdrawing and severing a sample of suitable size for remote examination and comparison. Disposed within each of the files, such as file 20, is a plurality of boxes 36 each of which is characterized by an exposed display panel 38 having a window 40 therein which exposes a lead portion of the roll contained within the box and having on the exposed surface a color, tint, shade, or hue of a predetermined formulation. Thus, in file 20 there are 15 individual boxes supported therein, each having a display window for the exposure of a roll of paper having on at least one surface thereof a color of predetermined formulation.

As shown in FIG. 1, when a color selection has been made, the lead portion 42 of a given roll may be pulled out of its box 36, and using the free marginal edge 44 as a relatively more rigid edge along which the lead portion 42 may be torn, a sample is severed from the supply roll.

The vertical files comprising the rack 10 are characterized by vertical framing members, such as side members 46 and 48, and top member and bottom member 52, the front marginal edges of which framing members define a plane. Side member 48 is shared in common with file 22 which also has side member 54. Top member 50 and bottom member 52 are also shared in common with file 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, file 20 is provided with a back member 56 which again may be common covering the back of files 20 and 22. Individual box-receiving receptacles are formed by providing shelves 58 extending parallel to each other and to the top member Sll and bottom member 52. As is best shown in FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates shelves 58 being disposed at an angle to back member 56, for example an angle of from about to The eflect of disposing the boxes on shelves tilted from the normal is to thrust the lower tearing edge 44- (FIG. 1) slightly forward, thereby improving the ability of the customer in grasping the leader 42 and in tearing along the edge 44 (FIG. 1). Disposition of the boxes at this slight angle improves their stability in the rack 10. Also, overhead light sources illuminate the exposed colored surface of the web stock more uniformly. The distance between adjacent shelves 58 is such as to accommodate boxes 36 without excessive play, i.e. a clearance of about to 4; so that tearing of samples from the rolls will not easily dislodge the boxes from their individual cells or receptacles.

As shown in FIG. 2, color rolls 60 are disposed within the boxes 36 and have'the lead portion 62 threaded over it is available for dispensing through the space between the front panel 66 and the display panel 48. The exposed 'lead portion 62 may then be severed from the supply roll 60 by tearing along tearing edge 68.

FIG. 3 is one form of blank from which the paper boxes or cartons of the present invention may be fabricated. Standard tag or paper carton stock may be used for cutting the blanks, and the stock may be coated or uncoated as desired. Instead of the normal four-panel box construction, the present invention provides for a fivepanel box in which the fifth panel overlaps the first panel, and the free edge of the first panel is traversed by a roll of paper contained within the box, and is preferably recessed to facilitate feeding of the paper from a contained roll. The paper passes between the first and the fifth panel and has a colored surface thereof exposed through a display window contained in the fifth panel. Box end-forming members are desirably provided for overfolding relation at each end of the five panels, and in one preferred embodiment, the box is sealed to form a tamper-proof cartridge containing a standard colored web stock in a roll.

Accordingly, there is provided in one embodiment shown in FIG. 3 a front panel 66 which is a rectangular shape and having a free edge 64 which is desirably recessed so as to provide a clearance between the free edge 64 and the top panel when the box is in assembled, folded condition. Such recess is not essential but is advantageous in facilitating threading of the lead portion 62 of the roll down between the front panel 66 and the display panel 48. Disposed along opposite marginal edges of panel 66 are box shape-retaining flaps 70 and 72 secured to the front panel 66 along fold lines 74 and 76 respectively. It is desirable, although not essential, that the shaperetaining flaps '70 and 72 be dimensioned to fit within the folded box structure taking into account paper thickness. The extensions 78 and 80 of fold lines 74 and 76 respectively are desirably raked toward the rearward edges 82 and 84, respectively, to facilitate assembly of the box. Secured to front panel 66 along its remaining edge 86 is bottom panel 88. Edge 86 is, of course, a fold line or score line which when the box is fully erected becomes an edge of panel 66 and a common edge with bottom panel 88. Secured to opposite marginal edges of bottom panel 88 are end closure tabs 90 and 92. Tabs 90 and 92 are secured to bottom panel 88 along fold lines '94 and 96. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, fold lines 94 and 96 are desirably staggered inwardly from fold lines 74 and 76, again for facilitating final erection of the box and accounting for paper thickness. Closure tabs 90 and 92 are dimensioned so that their respective areas cover approximately one-half of the area of the end of the box. These tabs are designed to confront in edge-to-edge relation corresponding tabs extending from the top panel hereinafter described. Slit lines 98 and 100 separate flaps 70 and 72 from tabs 90 and 92, respectively. Secured along the remaining edge 102 of bottom panel 88 is back panel 104. As in the case of fold line 86, edge 102 is common with bottom panel 88 and back panel 104 and provides a fold line along which the bottom and front panels are relatively angularly disposed one to the other. The closure flaps 106 and 108 are secured along opposite marginal edges 110 and 112 which provide fold or score lines along which the closure flaps are bent through 90 of relative rotation in the erection of the box.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, end closure flaps 106 and 108 are desirably configured slightly differently and include edge traversing portions 114 and 116, respectively, which when the box is erected overlie the adjacent edges 118 and 120 of tabs 90 and 92, and edges 98 and 100 of shape-retaining flaps 70 and 72. To provide for fold line 102 is faked away from tabs and '92 to provide raked portions 122 and 124, respectively. correspondingly, the fold line 126 which defines the common edge between back panel 104 and the top panel 128 has its lateral extensions similarly treated to provide raked portions 130 and 132. Raked portions 122 and 124 result in the disposition of the displaced extensions of fold line 102 to yield flap marginal edges 134 and 136 and dispose them in spaced relation to edges 118 and of tabs 90 and 92, respectively. Likewise raked portions and 132 result in offset disposition of the extensions of fold line 126 to give opposite marginal edges 138 and 140. The effect of the displacements of marginal edges 134 and 136, and the displacements of marginal edges 138 and 140 is to cause exposure of marginal portions of tabs 90 and 92, and tabs 142 and 144 when the end closure flaps 106 and 108 are in overfolded relation with respect to end closure tabs 90, 92, 142, 144. As will be explained hereinafter, adhesive means may be applied to the end flaps 146 and 148 secured to display panel 48 and may be brought into contact with end closure tabs 90 and 142, for example.

The structure of top panel 128 which is joined to back panel 104 along the fold line 126 is similar to the structure of panel 88 including its end closure tabs. Thus, end closure tabs 142 and 144 are secured to top panel 128 along opposite marginal edges or fold lines 150 and 152. Marginal edges 154 and 156 are by virtue of the displacing rake line 130 and 116, respectively, displaced from marginal edges 138 and 140 of end closure flaps 106 and 108, respectively. The opposite marginal edges 158 and 160 of end closure tabs 142 and 144 respectively are slit lines between such closure tabs and end flaps 146 and 148.

Display panel 48 is secured along the remaining edge or fold line 162 between top panel 128 and display panel 48 which is in effect a fold line 162. Display panel 48 has at its opposite ends end flaps 146 and 148 secured thereto along fold lines 164 and 166. The edge of the display panel 48 opposite edge 162 is a free edge 168 which is desirably reinforced such as by the application of an adhesive strip 170 disposed along marginal edge 168 on the surface which when the box is finally erected will be an inner unexposed surface. The adhesive 170 is conveniently utilized for this purpose and is allowed to dry without contacting any other portion of the container so as to provide a reinforced tearing edge. Display panel 48 is also provided with a cut-out window 40 of any suitable configuration to permit display of the color on the surface of the lead portion of the roll contained within the box as above explained.

As previously indicated, it is desirable that one end of the box be permanently sealed. To this end, end flap 146 is conveniently provided with adhesive strips 172 and 174 for adhesive coaction with end closure flap 106. As indicated above, the free marginal edge 176 of end flap 146 is also desirably supplied with an adhesive strip 178 which may be a continuation of adhesive strip 120. Adhesive strip 178, then, when the box is in fully erected condition, is able to coaot with bottom end flap 90 adjacent fold line 94 by virtue of the exposure of the marginal portion of end flap 90' adjacent fold line 94 by virtue of the displacement between marginal edges 118 and 134. If desired, a corresponding adhesive strip (not shown) parallel to adhesive strip 128 and along marginal edge 158 (which is slit for part of its length) may be supplied for coaction with end closure tab 142 along the exposed marginal portion adjacent fold line 150 by virtue of the displacement of marginal edges 154 and 138. Of the two, adhesive strip 178 is much more important than any corresponding member along marginal edge 158 in providing stability of the erected box and rigidity of the tearing edge 168. The upper marginal edge 179 of end flap 146 is defined by slit line 158.

As indicated above, end flap 148 on the opposite end of display panel 48 is secured to display panel 48 along fold line 166, and its other marginal edge 180 which is a continuation of fold line 162 is severed from end closure tab 144 along slit line 160'. Opposite marginal edge 182 is a free edge and is shown with adhesive strip 184 disposed therealong. Adhesive strip 184 serves no useful purpose in the present structure but is present for mechanical reasons in the application of adhesive strips to the marginal edges of containers which is usually done by means of an adhesive-applying roller. Accordingly, adhesive strips 178, 170 and 184 constitute a continuously roller-applied adhesive strip along the free marginal edge 168 and its lateral continuations 176 and 182, respectively, when the carton is in the blank form as shown in FIG. 3. Adhesive strip 184 like adhesive strip 170 is dried before erection of the box.

It should be pointed out that the location of the end closure flaps and tabs in the blank as shown in FIG. 3 is a preferred embodiment. Alternate disposition of the end closure tabs and flaps may be employed Without departing from the scope of this invention.

In order to provide for access to the interior of the container for replacement of rolls of colored paper, closure flap 148 is provided with an interlocking tab 186 secured to end flap 148 along fold line 188 and having slits 190 and 192 extending inwardly toward each other to provide locking edges when the tab 186 is folded along line 188, and inserted into slit 200 adjacent fold line 112 along which end closure flap 108 and back panel 104 are joined. Both ends of the box may be provided with an interlocking tab and corresponding tab-receiving slit, if desired, and provision of adhesive means on one end thereby rendered unnecessary.

The blank shown in FIG. 3 is conveniently die cut from standard paper stock using conventional blankforming methods and apparatus. The fold lines between the respective component parts are formed and scored in accordance with conventional procedures. The application of adhesive and the erection of the box are also conveniently machine operations which are conventional in the art.

FIG. 4 shows in cross-section the overfolded relation of the end closure tabs 90, 92, 142, and 144 with respect to the box shape-retaining flaps, the overfolded relation of the end closure flaps 106 and 108 with respect to the end closure tabs 90 and 142 and 92 and 144, respectively; and the overfolded relation of the end flaps 146 and 148. The interlocking of relation interlocking tab 186 and slit 200 also is shown.

When the box is fully erected from the blank shown in FIG. 3, this embodiment provides a box which is permanently sealed at one end and is openable at the opposite end by removal of tab 186 from tab-receiving slit 200 and progressive out-folding of the various slots and tabs constituting the closure for that end of the box. In this manner, the contents of the box may be removed and/ or replaced as desired. In the replacement of a roll of colored paper, one surface of which is usually provided with a coating of predetermined formulation and having a given color, tint, shade, or hue, a lead portion of such roll is threaded up over the free edge 64 of front panel 66 and downwardly between front panel 66 and display panel 48 in such a manner that the color-hearing surface of the paper roll is visible through window 40 in display panel 48. The free marginal edge of the supply roll of paper is then disposed adjacent the tearing edge 168. To remove a sample of the colored paper from the supply roll, the free marginal edge of the roll located beneath the display panel is grasped and pulled outwardly, generally in the direction of the plane including the confronting surfaces of the front and display panels, and when a sample of sufficient size has been withdrawn, it is severed from the supply roll by tearing along tearing edge 168.

As indicated above, a plurality of these boxes having a large variety of diiferently colored paper rolls contained therein and mounted in a rack such as rack 10 provide a display panel for a palette of colors available to predetermined formulations, and means for dispensing samples thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A color display and color sample dispensing rack comprising in combination a rack including a plurality of individual box-receiving receptacles arranged in a vertically extending file and a plurality of similar adjacently disposed files of box-receiving receptacles, a plurality of color sample dispensing devices in said rack for displaying a pallete of colors and dispensing samples of different color, tint, shade or hue, each color sample dispensing device comprising in combination a roll of colored paper and an elongated box dimensioned to contain such roll and to fit into a box-receiving receptacle in said rack, each of said box-receiving receptacles including top and bottom shelves disposed in a plane at a predetermined angle of from to to the plane of the face of the file and spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the height of the box, the top of one receptacle forming the bottom of the next adjacent receptacle except at the extremes of the files, said box being formed from a foldable blank including a rectangular display panel for overfolding relation with a front panel, said display panel having a display window therein; and having a reinforced free tear edge below the display window, said box being sealed at one end and openable from a closed condition at the other, the leader portion of said roll being disposed between said front panel and said display panel for display of the color of said paper through the window in said display panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 719,234 1/1903 Lafon 31239 1,612,791 1/1927 Ames et 21.1. 1,630,495 5/ 1927 Marcalus. 2,096,107 10/ 1937 Haggerty 312--39 X 3,216,606 11/1965 Garner 312-41 X FOREIGN PATENTS 545,251 8/ 1957 Canada.

HARLAND S. SKOGQUIST, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.-R. 312-39 

